Is ChatGPT a Reliable Source of Patient Information on Asthma?

Introduction: ChatGPT (OpenAI, San Francisco, CA, USA) is a novel artificial intelligence (AI) application that is used by millions of people, and the numbers are growing by the day. Because it has the potential to be a source of patient information, the study aimed to evaluate the ability of ChatGPT to answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) about asthma with consistent reliability, acceptability, and easy readability. Methods: We collected 30 FAQs about asthma from the Global Initiative for Asthma website. ChatGPT was asked each question twice, by two different users, to assess for consistency. The responses were evaluated by five board-certified internal medicine physicians for reliability and acceptability. The consistency of responses was determined by the differences in evaluation between the two answers to the same question. The readability of all responses was measured using the Flesch Reading Ease Scale (FRES), the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG). Results: Sixty responses were collected for evaluation. Fifty-six (93.33%) of the responses were of good reliability. The average rating of the responses was 3.65 out of 4 total points. 78.3% (n=47) of the responses were found acceptable by the evaluators to be the only answer for an asthmatic patient. Only two (6.67%) of the 30 questions had inconsistent answers. The average readability of all responses was determined to be 33.50±14.37 on the FRES, 12.79±2.89 on the FKGL, and 13.47±2.38 on the SMOG. Conclusion: Compared to online websites, we found that ChatGPT can be a reliable and acceptable source of information for asthma patients in terms of information quality. However, all responses were of difficult readability, and none followed the recommended readability levels. Therefore, the readability of this AI application requires improvement to be more suitable for patients.


Introduction
Asthma is a chronic disease affecting children, adults, and even older individuals.The condition is globally prevalent, with about 300 million patients worldwide [1].Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, which can all vary in frequency depending on how controlled the patient is [2].Most asthmatic patients have mild asthma and can live a normal life with an appropriate management plan.However, even mild cases can exacerbate and become life-threatening [3].The most common trigger for these severe exacerbations is viral infection, yet exposure to allergens and irritants is also a common cause [4].Notably, adequate asthma control can reduce the risk of acute exacerbations and the need for admissions [5].The extent to which an individual can acquire and comprehend health information, known as health literacy, is directly related to better asthma control.This means that the ability to access health resources has an impact on the outcome of patients' health [6].
Given the significant impact of health literacy on patient outcomes, it is crucial to explore how patients access and comprehend health information.While patients have relied on Internet search engines as the main source for answering inquiries regarding their health conditions, these are currently being challenged by artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) as the new dominant source.Among these AI models, OpenAI's (San Francisco, CA, USA) ChatGPT was the fastest-growing, with over 100 million monthly users shortly after its release [7].Despite the fact that the underlying technology behind ChatGPT may not be novel, its key differentiator lies in its unrestricted public access, free of charge.Moreover, the user-friendly interface and extensive dataset combine to create a unique user experience for interacting with LLMs [8].So far, the application has gained users' satisfaction when it comes to obtaining answers about their disorders [9].Therefore, it is predicted to become a go-to tool for many.
While the release of ChatGPT offers promising new avenues for information access, it also broadens public exposure to a vast amount of data.This necessitates careful evaluation of the presented material's accuracy, particularly when it concerns medical advice [10].A very recent study (Soto-Chávez et al., 2024) was conducted to evaluate ChatGPT's answers to a number of questions concerning different chronic internal medicine illnesses, including diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.The study concluded that the tool was able to provide a reliable source of information for these diseases, although it needs improvements in terms of readability [11].The presented study aims to assess the same tool, ChatGPT, as a resource for asthmatic patients' informational needs.

Materials And Methods
For this study, 30 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about asthma were collected from the Global Initiative for Asthma website (ginasthma.org).The chosen questions were organized into a list of six categories, with five questions in each category.The categories were as follows: general information about asthma, causes and trigger factors, symptoms, medical treatment, non-medical treatment, and a final section with questions about lifestyle and comorbidities.The ChatGPT application, version 3.5, was used for the evaluation as it is free of charge and broadly accessible to the general public [12].
On April 8th, 2024, the ChatGPT app was downloaded on two different devices by two different users in different locations for the sake of this study.This was done to avoid being influenced by previous user data.Each and every one of the questions was asked independently and separately in a new session through the "New Chat" feature.Again, this was done to avoid bias from previous conversations.The chatbot's initial response to each question was collected without response regeneration.On another device by a different user, the application was asked the same list of questions again in the same pattern, and both responses were collected to evaluate the consistency and reproducibility.An example of ChatGPT's responses to one of the questions is displayed in Table 1.The full list of all questions and answers is provided in the Appendices section.

Response A Response B
What are asthma controllers?
Asthma controllers are medications used on a regular basis to prevent asthma symptoms and attacks.They help reduce inflammation in the airways and make them less sensitive to triggers, thereby preventing or minimizing asthma symptoms.
These medications are typically prescribed for individuals with persistent asthma and are different from quick-relief medications, which are used to treat sudden symptoms.
Asthma controllers are medications used to manage asthma symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.They work by reducing inflammation and swelling in the airways, making them less sensitive to triggers that can cause asthma symptoms.Controllers are typically taken regularly, even when asthma symptoms are not present, to keep asthma under control and prevent flare-ups.Examples include inhaled corticosteroids, longacting beta-agonists, leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers.

TABLE 1: An example of two responses by ChatGPT to the same question
A set of five board-certified internal medicine physicians were asked to assess the two responses to each of the 30 questions.The evaluators were handed a spreadsheet containing instructions for the evaluation process as well as the 60 responses.The accuracy of each response was graded using a scale used in a previous study by Samaan et al. [13]: (1) comprehensive (accurate and comprehensive; nothing more a board-certified internal medicine physician would add to the response if asked this question by a patient); (2) correct but inadequate (all information is correct but incomplete, and a board-certified internal medicine physician would have more important information to add); (3) some correct and some incorrect; and (4) completely incorrect.Additionally, the acceptability of the responses was judged by asking the physicians a question: "Would this information be safe enough for you to share with your patient as the only answer to their question?"This aimed to assess whether the answers might miss vital details or could potentially pose a safety risk to patients.
The reliability of each response was described as "good" if at least four of the five physicians rated it as either "comprehensive" or "correct but inadequate."Otherwise, it was considered "poor."Reproducibility was assessed by comparing the final descriptive result of each of the two responses.If the two responses to the same question were either both "good" or both "poor" in terms of reliability, it was considered to be a consistent answer.Moreover, each response was considered acceptable if four or more physicians answered "yes" to the acceptability question [7].Lastly, in order to quantify the qualitative ratings, a numerical scale was established by assigning values ranging from 1 to 4, corresponding to the qualitative grades of "completely incorrect" to "comprehensive," respectively.The average rating of each response by the five raters was considered to resemble a consensus of evaluation.This transformation facilitated a more refined differentiation of the data, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the varying quality levels.
Statistical tests were chosen based on the normality of the data and employed to determine if there were any statistically significant differences in quantitative rating across the six categories of responses as well as assess the differences in reliability between the responses the first and second times each question was asked.A chi-square test was used to assess significant differences in the acceptability of the first and second sets of responses.Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.SPSS Statistics version 27 (IBM Corp. Released 2020.IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27.0.Armonk, NY: IBM Corp) was used for the analysis.
Finally, the readability of the sixty responses was evaluated utilizing the Flesch Reading Ease Scale (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) to find the mean and range of each measure.The acceptable readability levels were set at 80 or above for the FRES and below 7 for the FKGL and SMOG [14].

Results
A total of 60 responses were collected, two responses per each of the 30 questions.Fifty-six (93.33%) of the responses were of good reliability.The average rating of the responses was 3.65 (95% CI 3.57 to 3.72) out of 4 total points.The overall acceptability of the responses was approximately 78% (n=47, 78.33%; 95% CI 67.60% to 89.06%).Table 2 shows the frequencies and proportions of the reliability and acceptability ratings for each category.The readability of the 60 responses was determined to be, on average, 33.50 ±14.37 (difficult) on the FRES, 12.79±2.89on the FKGL, and 13.47±2.38 on the SMOG.None of the responses had an acceptable readability score.The correlation coefficients between the reliability ratings and the FRES, FKGL, and SMOG readability scores of each response were 0.099, -0.092, and -0.136, respectively.
There was a significant difference (F(5, 5)=4.067,p=0.03) in the reliability of responses across the six different categories, with the responses to medical treatment questions being the highest rated (mean of 3.9±0.19).There was a statistically significant difference in the FRES (F(5, 5)=3.994,p=0.004) and the FKGL (F(5, 5)=4.465,p=0.002) of the responses among the six different categories.Table 3 shows the means of the reliability and readability ratings and their associations with question categories.

Discussion
Our study aimed to evaluate the reliability and acceptability of ChatGPT's responses to 30 different questions across different categories, as well as assess the readability of the two sets of answers given to each question.Our assessment results show that 93.33% (n=56) of the responses generated by ChatGPT have been deemed "good" ("comprehensive" or "correct but inadequate"), with an average rating of 3.65 out of 4 points total.This suggests that the output of ChatGPT consistently provided reliable and comprehensive information, according to the evaluation done by the five assigned physicians.The overall acceptability of the responses was 78% (n=47), meaning that a significant portion of the responses were deemed acceptable information to convey to patients by the evaluators.
The chatbot exhibited high consistency in its responses.When presented with the same questions, it delivered answers that conveyed largely similar information.While a minority of responses with significantly more detail received higher ratings, most responses paraphrased each other, leading to low inconsistency rates.Statistical analysis (t-tests and chi-square) revealed no significant difference in the ratings between the first and second responses to each question.This suggests both responses achieved similar levels of reliability and acceptability, with only a few instances of inconsistency.
The highest-rated answers were to questions about medical treatment.This may be because, in addition to the accuracy of the information, the chatbot considered the concerns of the patient when answering.For example, after ChatGPT enumerated the side effects of inhaled steroids, it followed up with: "The benefits of controlling asthma symptoms generally outweigh the risks of these side effects when used appropriately under medical supervision."This reassures the patients and encourages them to comply with the medication, as well as emphasizing the importance of medical supervision.Responses received lower ratings when they did not encourage shared decision-making with a medical professional.
In addition to lower reliability, responses that did not encourage patients to seek medical advice were considered to have lower acceptability as well.Moreover, responses to general questions about asthma received low acceptability ratings.This is because the evaluators believed that the responses, despite being accurate, were not adequate to be the only answers to such broad questions.It is rational to assume that a newly diagnosed patient, or a family member, would expect a longer, more detailed answer when they are first getting to know the disease.For example, the chatbot's responses to questions such as "Can a person die from asthma?" were found unacceptable as they required further details and more support for the patient.Yet, as most responses were acceptable, we found this AI tool to be beneficial as a resource for patients to learn and acquire knowledge about the disease.We expect that this knowledge can contribute to a better health outcome.
Despite the overall good reliability and acceptability of ChatGPT's responses, the readability scoring of those responses has been determined to be difficult on the FRES, FKGL test, and SMOG formula.None of the responses had an acceptable readability score due to ChatGPT using complex language that requires a higher level of knowledge and comprehension.Furthermore, a weak association was found between the reliability scores and the FRES, FKGL, and SMOG readability scores; responses rated higher on the reliability score had a slight tendency to score higher on the FRES and lower on the FKGL and SMOG tests.
There was, however, a significant difference in the reliability of responses across the six different categories, with the responses to medical treatment questions being the highest rated with an average of 3.9 out of 4 total points.This alone displays ChatGPT's strength in providing reliable information in valuable areas and highlights its potential use in patient education.There was also a significant difference in the FRES and the FKGL scores among the responses to the different categories, with responses to lifestyle and comorbidity questions scoring the highest grade on the FKGL test, deeming it the most difficult answer to comprehend.
On the other hand, responses to non-medical treatment questions scored the lowest grade on the FKGL test, possibly due to the chatbot using simpler and easier-to-understand concepts compared to other categories, yet still above the recommended level [14].
Our study results demonstrated that most of the answers were rated as "good" on reliability, which is similar to findings in a study conducted to evaluate ChatGPT's responses to questions related to chronic diseases (diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus) in Spanish with 83.3%, 50%, 66.6%, 83.3%, and 75%, respectively.The lower scoring of the study can possibly be attributed to the language used; given that ChatGPT has been trained in English, the chatbot's performance when asked in English is better compared to other languages [11].
Comparing ChatGPT's responses' readability to the results of a study done to evaluate asthma websites (Table 4), ChatGPT has scored an average reading ease score of 33.5 and a reading grade level score of 12.79, which significantly varies from the scores obtained by evaluating asthma websites with an average reading ease score of 53.57and a reading grade level of 9.49 [16].This demonstrates that the information provided by ChatGPT is of a higher reading level than traditional online resources and is substantially more difficult to read.However, ChatGPT's responses and the information obtained from asthma websites are of higher reading difficulty levels than the recommended level determined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services [14].We highlighted several strengths in this study.First, this is the first study conducted to evaluate ChatGPT's information regarding asthma.Second, a comprehensive evaluation of the responses was achieved by obtaining assessments from five different raters with a strong level of consensus between them.Third, comparisons of readability results were made based on previous studies done on websites for patient education on asthma; however, the reliability of those websites was not always assessed.Further studies can be made to directly compare the reliability and acceptability of ChatGPT to traditional website searches.
There are some limitations to our study that should be illuminated.First, this study was conducted on ChatGPT 3.5, which is freely available to the public and relies on information from a database of texts up to 2021.However, a newer version of ChatGPT (GPT-4) has been made available recently with a subscription model; this version is more advanced and has information up to April 2023.Therefore, the responses provided by ChatGPT 3.5 may be outdated in comparison.Further research should be done using ChatGPT 4 and its newer versions to evaluate the reliability and readability of its information [20].
Another limitation of our study was that the review of ChatGPT's responses was done by raters at an attending physician's level.Although this limitation was mended by asking rudimentary questions taken from the FAQ page of the GENA website, patients' age and level of education should be considered while evaluating these responses.In addition, the raters in this study were not blinded and had full knowledge that the responses were provided by ChatGPT, which could cause a bias in their assessment of the responses.
Lastly, it should be noted that only the first-generated responses were evaluated in this study.This method does not take into account the possibility of people asking the chatbot to simplify answers or ask for further clarification in which information could be corrected or supplemented in the ensuing answers.This aspect should be considered when conducting future research on the topic.

Conclusions
Our study indicates that ChatGPT provides reliable responses to questions from asthma patients, particularly when providing information regarding medical treatments.Yet, challenges exist regarding the readability of these questions, limiting their accessibility to a certain set of users with higher education levels and health literacy.Despite this, ChatGPT remains a promising tool for patient education in conjunction with physicians' advice.Addressing readability issues and further exploring its capabilities are essential for maximizing its effectiveness as a valuable resource in healthcare communication for asthma patients.Pet Grooming: Regularly bathe and groom your pet to reduce the amount of dander.Doing this outside your home or using professional grooming services can further minimize your exposure.6. Medications: Discuss with your doctor or allergist about medications that can help control your allergic reactions and asthma symptoms.This might include antihistamines, nasal sprays, inhalers, or even allergy shots (immunotherapy).7. Air Circulation:

Appendices
Improve the ventilation in your home.Opening windows when possible and using exhaust fans can help reduce the concentration of indoor allergens.
8. Hand Washing: After handling your pet, wash your hands thoroughly.
This simple step can reduce the spread of allergens to your eyes and nose.and conditions conducive to managing your asthma effectively.Additionally, having accommodations and understanding colleagues can make a significant difference in navigating your professional path with asthma.
Consulting with healthcare professionals can provide insights tailored to your specific condition and career aspirations.Asthma can be associated with other chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
While they may seem unrelated, they can share underlying immune system dysregulation or inflammatory processes.However, having one of these conditions doesn't necessarily mean you'll have the others, but it's essential to manage each condition properly as they can interact and affect one another.
While asthma, rheumatism (arthritis), and diabetes are all chronic conditions, they aren't directly related in terms of causation.However, there can be overlapping risk factors or shared underlying immune system dysregulation.For instance, inflammation plays a role in all three conditions, and certain factors like obesity can exacerbate both asthma and diabetes.Each condition requires its own management and treatment approach.It's essential to work closely with healthcare providers to address the specific needs of each condition.

TABLE 5: A list of all questions and responses by ChatGPT to asthma FAQs
FAQs: frequently asked questions

2 .
Respiratory infections, like the common cold or the flu.3. Physical activity, especially in cold and dry air.4. Cold air or sudden changes in weather. 5. Tobacco smoke, including secondhand smoke.6.Air pollution 2024 Alabdulmohsen et al.Cureus 16(7): e64114.DOI 10.7759/cureus.641146 of 13 What are the main asthma triggers?colds and flu. 4. Physical activity or exerciseinduced asthma.5. Weather changes, particularly cold air.6.Strong emotions or stress.7. Certain medications or food additives.8. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).9. Hormonal changes, such as those during menstruation or pregnancy.Identifying and managing triggers is crucial in asthma management.and outdoor pollutants like ozone, as well as indoor pollutants such as certain chemicals.7. Strong emotions and stress, which can lead to hyperventilation and tightening of the airways.8. Certain medications, including beta-blockers, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).9. Food additives, in rare cases, such as sulfites used in dried fruit, wine, and processed foods.10.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition where stomach acid flows back into the throat, which can irritate the airways.Identifying and avoiding personal asthma triggers is a key part of managing the condition effectively.changes can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.Factors such as cold air, hot and humid conditions, changes in temperature, high pollen levels, and air pollution can all contribute to asthma flare-ups.Cold, dry air can irritate the airways and trigger bronchospasms, while hot and humid conditions can increase the presence of allergens like mold and pollen in the air.It's important for individuals with asthma to be aware of weather changes and take necessary precautions to manage their condition, such as using inhalers as prescribed and avoiding triggers when possible.Yes, weather changes can indeed trigger asthma symptoms in some people.Rapid changes in temperature, cold air, hot and humid conditions, and windy or stormy weather can all affect air quality and irritate the airways, leading to asthma flare-ups.It's important for those with asthma to be aware of the weather conditions that might affect them and to manage their condition accordingly, often with the advice of a healthcare provider.Can infections trigger asthma?Yes, infections such as colds or respiratory viruses can trigger asthma symptoms or exacerbate existing asthma.This is because the inflammation and irritation caused by infections can narrow the airways, making it harder to breathe for people with asthma.Yes, respiratory infections are known triggers for asthma.Viral infections, such as the common cold, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are among the most common triggers, especially in children.These infections can cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.Managing asthma often involves avoiding known triggers, including infections, and following a treatment plan prescribed by a healthcare provider.Can medications trigger asthma?Yes, certain medications can trigger asthma symptoms in some people.These medications are known as "asthma triggers" and can include aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, beta-blockers, and some medications used to treat high blood pressure or heart conditions.It's important for individuals with asthma to discuss potential triggers with their healthcare provider.Yes, certain medications can trigger asthma or worsen symptoms for some people.Common examples include: 1. Beta-blockers: Used for heart disease, high blood pressure, and migraines.They can cause airway constriction that can lead to asthma symptoms.2. Aspirin and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Some individuals, particularly adults with asthma, may experience worsened symptoms when taking aspirin or NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
medication can help prevent asthma symptoms by reducing inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which are the underlying causes of asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.These medications can include inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta agonists, leukotriene modifiers, and others, depending on the severity and type of asthma.It's important for individuals with asthma to work with their healthcare provider to develop a personalized treatment plan to effectively manage their symptoms and prevent asthma attacks.Yes, asthma medications are designed to prevent and relieve asthma symptoms.There are two main types: 1. Controller medications: These are taken daily to prevent asthma symptoms and attacks by reducing inflammation and mucus production in the airways.2. Reliever medications: These are used as needed to quickly relieve symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath during an asthma attack by relaxing the muscles around the airways.It's crucial for asthma patients to work with their healthcare provider to develop an effective treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.Managing asthma involves being proactive about avoiding triggers.Here 2024 Alabdulmohsen et al.Cureus 16(7): e64114.DOI 10.7759/cureus.64114I have asthma, how can I avoid common triggers?To avoid common asthma triggers, consider these tips: 1. Allergens: Keep your living space clean, vacuum regularly, use dust mite covers on bedding, and avoid exposure to pollen by keeping windows closed during high pollen seasons.2. Smoke: Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, and stay away from areas where people are smoking.3. Air Pollution: Check air quality forecasts and avoid outdoor activities during high pollution days.Consider using air purifiers indoors.4. Cold Air: Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf in cold weather and consider wearing a mask if needed. 5. Exercise: Warm up before exercising and try activities less likely to trigger asthma, such as swimming or walking.6. Respiratory Infections: Wash hands frequently and avoid close contact with sick individuals to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.7. Stress: Practice stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing exercises or yoga to manage asthma symptoms triggered by stress.8. Pets: Keep pets out of the bedroom, bathe pets regularly, and vacuum frequently to reduce exposure to pet dander.9. Strong Odors: Avoid strong perfumes, scented candles, and other strong odors that may trigger asthma symptoms.10.Weather Changes: Pay attention to weather changes and take necessary precautions, such as using a humidifier in dry conditions.Remember to work closely with your healthcare provider to develop a personalized asthma action plan tailored to your specific triggers and needs.are some common triggers and ways to avoid them: 1. Allergens: These can include pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, and cockroach droppings.-Solution: Use allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers, wash bedding in hot water weekly, use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your vacuum cleaner and air purifier, and keep humidity levels low to prevent mold growth.For pet dander, consider not allowing pets in bedrooms or on upholstered furniture.2. Tobacco Smoke: Smoke is a powerful asthma trigger.-Solution: Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.If you smoke, seek help to quit.Avoid areas where smoking is allowed.3. Air Pollution: This includes outdoor pollution like smog, ozone, and car exhaust, as well as indoor sources like fragrances or cleaning products.-Solution: Check air quality forecasts and limit outdoor activities when air quality is poor.Use unscented cleaning products and avoid aerosol sprays.4. Cold Air: Cold air can tighten airways.-Solution: Wear a scarf or a mask over your nose and mouth if you have to be outside in cold weather. 5. Exercise: While exercise is important for overall health, it can sometimes trigger asthma symptoms.-Solution: Warm up before starting exercise and cool down afterward.If cold air triggers your asthma, try to exercise indoors during cold weather.There are also medications that can be used pre-exercise to prevent symptoms.6. Stress and Emotions: Stress and strong emotions can sometimes lead to asthma flare-ups.-Solution: Practice stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation.7. Sulfites in Food: Some people with asthma are sensitive to sulfites, preservatives added to some foods and drinks.-Solution: Avoid foods and drinks that contain sulfites, such as dried fruits, wine, and processed potatoes.8. Infections: Respiratory infections can trigger asthma.-Solution: Wash your hands frequently, avoid close contact with sick people, and get vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia.Regularly cleaning your home to remove dust, avoiding the use of heavy perfumes or air fresheners, and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can also help control asthma symptoms.It's crucial to work with your healthcare provider to create a personalized asthma action plan tailored to your specific triggers and needs.I have asthma and I am allergic to pets, what can I do?Living with asthma and pet allergies can be challenging, but there are steps you can take to manage your condition: 1. Avoid Exposure: Try to minimize your contact with pets, especially those you are allergic to.This might involve avoiding homes with pets or limiting your time spent around animals. 2. Create Pet-Free Zones: Designate certain areas of your home as pet-free zones, such as your bedroom, to reduce your exposure to allergens while you sleep.3. Use Air Purifiers: Consider using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in your home to help remove pet dander and other allergens from the air.4. Keep Pets Outdoors: If you have pets, keep them outdoors as much as possible to reduce the amount of pet dander in your living space.5. Regular Cleaning: Vacuum your home frequently with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter.Wash bedding, curtains, and other fabrics regularly to remove pet dander.6. Medication: Talk to your doctor about appropriate medications to manage your asthma and allergies, such as antihistamines or corticosteroids.They may also prescribe a rescue inhaler for asthma attacks.7. Allergy Shots: Consider immunotherapy (allergy shots) to help reduce your sensitivity to pet allergens over time.This involves receiving regular injections of small amounts of allergens to desensitize your immune system.8. Consult an Allergist: If your symptoms are severe or difficult to manage, consider consulting an allergist for personalized advice and treatment options.By taking these steps, you Managing asthma and pet allergies can be challenging, but there are steps you can take to minimize symptoms and exposure.Here are some strategies: 1. Allergy Testing: Confirm your specific allergies with an allergist.This can help tailor your avoidance strategies and treatments.2. Pet-Free Zones: Designate certain areas of your home, like your bedroom, as pet-free zones to reduce allergen exposure.3. HEPA Filters: Use HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters in your vacuum cleaner and air purifiers to capture pet dander and other allergens.4. Frequent Cleaning: Clean your home regularly, including floors, furniture, and other surfaces where pet dander can accumulate.Wash bedding and upholstery often. 5.
a physical condition involving inflammation and narrowing of the airways, typically triggered by environmental factors like allergens or respiratory infections.However, psychological factors such as stress and anxiety can sometimes exacerbate symptoms or trigger asthma attacks.So while asthma is not solely a psychological disease, psychological factors can play a role in its management and impact on an individual's health.Asthma is primarily a physical condition involving inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to difficulty in breathing.However, psychological factors like stress can exacerbate symptoms in some individuals, but it's not considered a purely psychological or psychosomatic disease.Is emphysema the same as asthma?No, emphysema and asthma are not the same.Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways characterized by episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing.It often starts in childhood and can be triggered by various factors such as allergens, exercise, or respiratory infections.Emphysema, on the other hand, is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by damage to the air sacs in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing.It is commonly caused by long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke and is typically seen in older individuals.While both conditions affect breathing, they have different causes, mechanisms, and treatments.No, emphysema and asthma are not the same.Emphysema is a chronic lung condition primarily caused by smoking or long-term exposure to air pollution, leading to damage to the air sacs in the lungs.Asthma, on the other hand, is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways that can be triggered by various factors such as allergens, exercise, or respiratory infections.They have different causes, symptoms, and treatments.

TABLE 4 : Readability of ChatGPT responses compared to previous studies assessing the readability of asthma education websites
FKGL: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, SD: standard deviation Managing asthma when you're allergic to dust mites involves several steps:1.Reduce Exposure: Use allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers, wash bedding weekly in hot water, and vacuum carpets and upholstery regularly.2.Maintain Cleanliness: Keep your home clean and dust-free, Yes, relaxing exercises like deep breathing, yoga, and tai chi can help manage asthma by reducing stress and improving breathing techniques.However, it's important to consult with your healthcare provider to ensure these exercises are safe and suitable for your individual condition.
changes, or allergy shots.11.Educate Yourself and Others: Learn as much as you can about managing asthma and allergies, and educate those around you, especially family members, about your condition and how they can help reduce your exposure to allergens.Remember, individual sensitivity to allergens can vary greatly, so it's essential to find the right balance of exposure and management that works for you.2024Alabdulmohsen et al.Cureus 16(7): e64114.DOI 10.7759/cureus.641149 of 13 can help minimize your exposure to pet allergens and better manage your asthma and allergies.regularbasis to prevent asthma symptoms and Asthma controllers are medications used to manage asthma symptoms and 2024 Alabdulmohsen et al.Cureus 16(7): e64114.DOI 10.7759/cureus.6411410 of 13What are asthma controllers?attacks.They help reduce inflammation in the airways and make them less sensitive to triggers, thereby preventing or minimizing asthma symptoms.These medications are typically prescribed for individuals with persistent asthma and are different from quick-relief medications, which are used to treat sudden symptoms.prevent asthma attacks.They work by reducing inflammation and swelling in the airways, making them less sensitive to triggers that can cause asthma symptoms.Controllers are typically taken regularly, even when asthma symptoms are not present, to keep asthma under control and prevent flare-ups.Examples include inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists, leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers.How does asthma affect my choice of a Asthma can influence your career choices depending on the nature of the job and your asthma severity.Careers involving exposure to triggers like dust, chemicals, or extreme temperatures might pose challenges.However, many careers are asthma-friendly, such as office-Asthma can influence your career choices depending on factors like triggers, environmental conditions, and physical demands.Some careers may expose you to substances that worsen asthma symptoms, like dust or chemicals, making them less suitable.Jobs with physical exertion or highstress levels might also be challenging if they trigger asthma attacks.It's essential to consider these factors and choose a career with environments 2024 Alabdulmohsen et al.Cureus 16(7): e64114.DOI 10.7759/cureus.64114professional career?based jobs, teaching, writing, or remote work.It's essential to consider your asthma management plan and any accommodations needed when selecting a career path.